Arena Football: Gladiators vs. Cobras preview

The Las Vegas Gladiators (2-3) and the Carolina Cobras (0-5) will play Sunday, 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time), at the Charlotte Coliseum.

The Gladiators will be trying to improve their record to .500 overall on the road, while the Cobras will be looking for their first victory this season.

This figures to be a victory for the Gladiators. However, the opening line in Las Vegas, -10, is too optimistic.

The Gladiators, coming off a devastating loss, want a decisive victory against their next opponent. A winless adversary would seem ideal, but the Gladiators are 0-3 in meetings with the Cobras.

Injuries have plagued the Cobras this season. Eventually, they will stop suffering new injuries and adapt their game plan to the ones that have already occurred. When that happens, Carolina will be a tenacious adversary. They have 100% efficiency in the red zone this season, tied with the defending Arena Bowl champions San Jose SaberCats. The difference is the Cobras have only been in the red zone eleven times.

The Gladiators may have a significant injury of their own: offensive specialist Mike Horacek is listed as questionable for the game.

The two teams are also facing possible starting quarterback changes.

Carolina has started four different quarterbacks in five games, while Las Vegas pulled Jay McDonagh in favor of Todd Hammel during the second quarter of the San Jose game. Gladiators' coach Frank Haege has not announced if he will start Hammel or McDonagh this week.

Finally, both Carolina and Las Vegas have excellent kickers.

The Cobras' Matt George has not missed an extra point all year. However, he is only 2-13 on field goals, with over half his failed attempts coming from beyond fifty yards.

On the other side of the field, Las Vegas kicker Mike Videtich is 27-30 on extra points and 3-7 on field goals. He is 0-3 on field goal attempts over fifty yards.